...Or Words To That Effect

First I have to say Van Morrison is an artist that needs a lot more damned recognition than he’s had so far. The man is a genius. His new album on Warner Bros. — Reprise called Astral Weeks is a masterpiece of words and music. In my mind his greatness has no comparison (except to say he is England’s Feleciano with 100% more originality and power.). His words and music bring about a feeling of emotion, of love lost, and of love found. He is fantastic and I can’t say half enough about him or his album because I don’t know enough praised to spout or write, nor do I feel I ever will.

When I first listened to the album I honestly didn’t know what to expect at all. Afterwards I was moved; surprised to say the least. This was not the Morrison I remembered, but yet it was the Morrison who sang with the “Them” and with the “Belfast Gypsys”. Then after getting screwed around with by Bang Records, putting out commercial tunes (that I dug because he sang them). He finally got a break I guess, I can’t say for sure but I think he’s doing what he wants now and I think that’s great. Anyway, I opened the album, took it out of it’s jacket and turned on myself as well as the stereo, sat back to listen to Astral Weeks,